EU VAT guide
VIES API
The official VIES technical service exposes VAT validation through a SOAP interface used by many VAT checker tools.
Integration basics
A typical check sends a member-state country code and a VAT number to VIES, then receives valid, invalid, or error responses.
The service can also expose approximate checks for workflows that include requester details and may return a request identifier.
Production concerns
Build for downtime, member-state failures, timeouts, and concurrency limits from day one.
Avoid storing VAT numbers unless you have a clear user-facing retention purpose and privacy controls.
Validating VAT numbers at volume?
Join the batch/API list for CSV validation, retries, audit exports, and developer access.
Related VIES guides
- VIES VAT checkerCheck an EU VAT number in VIES and understand what the response means.
- EU VAT number validationValidate EU VAT IDs and learn when VAT checks matter for cross-border trade.
- VIES consultation numberLearn what a VIES consultation number is and when it can appear.
- VIES errors explainedUnderstand common VIES errors such as MS_UNAVAILABLE, TIMEOUT, and SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE.
- VIES service unavailableWhat to do when VIES or a national VAT registry is unavailable.
- Is VIES down?Check whether the VIES gateway appears reachable and learn what VIES downtime means.